A request

Chen Lin had never expected that she had come to him for talismancrafting.

He was in no position to refuse, so he could only take the Jade Slip.

After a long while, he pulled the Jade Slip away from his brow and looked at her with a wry smile. "Fellow Daoist Ye, you think far too highly of me. This talisman is so arcane and complex. Even setting aside whether my mana could sustain the process, it requires a cultivator's true fire to assist in its creation. That alone is beyond me!"

True fire was a special flame that only a Foundation Establishment Cultivator could produce. The moment Chen Lin saw that requirement, he knew he could not make it.

This was also his first time seeing a talisman-making method that required a flame as a medium. It had certainly broadened his horizons.

"Is it really impossible? If the flame is the problem, I can solve that for you, Fellow Daoist Chen."

Ye Jingyun looked a little disappointed, but she still refused to give up.

"How?"

Chen Lin was puzzled. Could she somehow raise his cultivation to Foundation Establishment?

If she could, he would make this talisman for her even if he had to stake his life on it.

Ye Jingyun paced a couple of steps, then said slowly, "Although the Jade Slip specifies true fire, which only Foundation Establishment Cultivators can use, that requirement isn't absolute. Strange fire will work as well."

"Strange fire? What's that?"

It was Chen Lin's first time hearing the term, and he could not help feeling curious.

At the same time, he became acutely aware of how little he knew about immortal cultivation.

Ye Jingyun did not mock him. Instead, she patiently explained, "Strange fire is a special flame formed naturally between heaven and earth. It's exceedingly rare, so it's perfectly normal that you haven't heard of it. All you need to know is that it can replace true fire, and I happen to have a wisp of it."

"Ah!"

Chen Lin let out an exclamation.

Although he still did not know the specifics of strange fire, he understood her meaning: he need not worry about a source of flame.

Then Ye Jingyun spoke again. "As for the mana consumption, you needn't worry about that either. I have plenty of Qi Replenishing Pills. If those aren't enough, I also have higher-grade Spirit Restoring Pills. And if even those won't suffice, I can stand beside you and supply you with mana."

"Well..."

For a moment, Chen Lin genuinely had no idea how to refuse.

She had come fully prepared, by the look of things. He had no grounds left to turn her down.

"All right, I'll give it a try. But let me say the unpleasant part up front: my talismancrafting skills aren't nearly as good as you imagine. I've only just started learning, and the chances of success are extremely slim. Don't blame me if I waste your materials."

Since he could not evade it, he might as well agree.

A few failures would put an end to her hopes.

"Then thank you, Fellow Daoist."

Ye Jingyun thanked him.

To Chen Lin's surprise, she even gave him a slight bow!

That gave him quite a fright. He hastily returned the bow and said in a fluster, "Please, Fellow Daoist Ye, there's no need for such courtesy. It's my honor to be of assistance."

As he returned her bow, Chen Lin quietly wondered why she was being so courteous. Was she naturally kind, or was she trying to probe him about something?

She did not leave him wondering for long. A flicker passed through her eyes as she said, "Please keep this matter confidential, Fellow Daoist. Don't tell Senior Brother Yu."

Uh.

So that was why.

Understanding dawned on Chen Lin.

But another question immediately arose. It was only a talisman. Given her relationship with Yu Yuehai, what was there to hide?

Of course, he was not foolish enough to ask. After a moment's hesitation, he nodded. "I can do that, but if Fellow Daoist Yu finds out and blames me, you'll have to speak up for me!"

Seeing him agree, Ye Jingyun smiled in satisfaction and nodded. "Naturally. You needn't worry about that. Besides, if you help me make this talisman, I can guarantee that Senior Brother Yu won't harm you. Even if he does try to make trouble for you one day, I'll intervene."

That was exactly what Chen Lin had been waiting for. He immediately cupped his hands. "Then thank you, Fellow Daoist Ye!"

Ye Jingyun patted her Storage Bag, and a pile of objects appeared on the table.

The most eye-catching was a small bottle with an unusual shape. Chen Lin could not tell what it was made of, but judging by the Mystic Runes covering its surface, it was actually a magical tool.

There was also a pure white Jade Box, which did not look like an ordinary object either.

In addition, there was a stack of some twenty or thirty sheets of talisman paper. These were not ordinary sheets, but high-grade talisman paper made from monster beast hides.

Finally, there was a talisman brush.

At the sight of that brush, Chen Lin's eyes lit up.

He had seen it in the Multitreasure Pavilion. It was a high-grade item.

Its shaft was fashioned entirely from cold ice profound jade. A golden band engraved with fine inscription runes encircled the brush head, and its reddish-brown bristles were life-bound hairs taken from the chest of a second-rank fire-attribute monster beast.

According to the Multitreasure Pavilion's shopkeeper, the brush had the remarkable ability to increase the success rate of fire-attribute talismans. He had coveted it intensely.

Unfortunately, its price was equally impressive, well beyond what he could afford.

He had not expected it to end up in her hands.

It seemed she had been preparing to make this talisman for quite some time.

Ignoring Chen Lin's astonished gaze, Ye Jingyun first picked up the unusual little bottle. She stroked it and said softly, "This bottle contains the spirit ink needed for the talisman: the essence blood of a second-rank monster beast, an ink-scaled flood dragon. There isn't much, but it should be enough for a dozen or so attempts."

At the mention of an ink-scaled flood dragon, Chen Lin's eyes flickered.

Among the materials required to forge the Azure Flood Dragon Halberd, one of the most important was a flood dragon's soul.

Flood dragons were rare and powerful creatures. He wondered where she had obtained the essence blood, and whether she might also have its soul essence.

Of course, he would not ask at a time like this.

Aside from a flood dragon's soul essence, forging the Azure Flood Dragon Halberd required many other rare materials. He could not possibly make it anytime soon.

He was only a small fry in the mid Qi Refinement realm. There was no way he could use something as high-grade as a flood dragon's soul essence. Asking rashly would only deepen her suspicions.

Then Ye Jingyun picked up the Jade Box and slowly opened it.

The instant the Jade Box opened, Chen Lin felt the temperature in the room drop several degrees. A cold, sinister aura seeped out of it.

He looked over in surprise.

He discovered that the thing causing such a stir was merely a tiny clump of something as black as ink.

It was shaped like a candle flame. Strangely, it did not rest on the bottom of the Jade Box, but hovered in the air, swaying gently.

"Could this be strange fire? It really is peculiar!"

There was no need to ask. This had to be the strange fire she had mentioned, and it truly opened Chen Lin's eyes.

Ye Jingyun nodded. "That's right. This is a kind of strange fire called cold nether flame. Despite the icy aura it gives off, the temperature inside the flame is extremely high. It can also be controlled with spiritual sense. It's quite extraordinary."

With that, she took out another Jade Slip and held it out to Chen Lin.

Under his puzzled gaze, she explained, "This contains a secret art for establishing a mental connection with a spiritual entity. It's easier to use than the Object Manipulation Art, and very simple to learn. Once you've mastered it, start studying the talisman-making method."

After a moment's thought, she took out a drab gray pouch as well and said, "I see you don't have a Storage Bag yet. When you prepare to leave this place, you'll need to bring more supplies with you. I happen to have a spare. If you manage to make the talisman, it will be your reward!"

Having said that, she handed both items to Chen Lin.

Then she turned and left.